This half-day session is exclusively for headteachers and senior leaders working in special schools, and offers a focused opportunity to engage with a structured peer review approach tailored to the unique contexts of specialist settings.
Designed to support continuous improvement and reflect the latest expectations in the new inspection framework, this session will outline key protocols and equip you with practical strategies for meaningful school-to-school review. Emphasis will be placed on collaboration, professional dialogue, and developing clarity around strengths and areas for development within complex and diverse educational environments.
What the session will cover:
- Purpose and Impact of Peer Review in Special Schools – Understanding how collaborative review can drive real improvement in specialist provision
- Protocols and Safeguarding – Establishing clear agreements around confidentiality, safety, and professionalism in peer visits
- Structuring the Review – Aligning with the inspection framework while keeping the process relevant to your setting’s priorities
- Effective Questioning Techniques – Developing lines of enquiry that are probing, respectful and insightful in a specialist context.
Activities will include:
- Identifying meaningful sources of evidence in special schools
- Engaging in professional conversations with leaders and middle leaders
- Evaluating impact on outcomes for children and young people with complex needs
- Sharing approaches that work and learning from each other
Review Focus Areas
Potential focus areas, aligned with the new inspection framework, but most relevant to the schools may include: Personal Development and Wellbeing, or Behaviour and Attitudes. Final themes will be confirmed on the day.
Collaborative Review Cohort
At the end of the session, you’ll be placed in a triad or tetrad with other special school leaders. Each school will then take part in a supportive review cycle, visiting one another’s settings to examine an agreed focus area.
Please click here for full details.
This event is for VNET members only.
